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Chapter 28
When Ventus snapped his fingers once more, the vast ocean vanished, replaced by the front gate of my house. The knight guarding the entrance visibly flinched in shock. After giving a casual wave, I turned to Ventus and asked,
“Is it really okay for you to use magic like this?”
He had already given me quite a bit of mana, and the teleportation had used his mana too.
He’d done just about everything himself—how could he still look so perfectly fine?
When I looked at him with concern, he curled his lips into a grin.
“I’m totally fine. I think you’re just worried because we were apart for such a long time. This level of magic doesn’t even affect me.”
…Well, worrying once in a while should be okay.
Ventus turned his head, scratching the back of his neck with his hand, and added quietly. When I caught a glimpse of his face, it was slightly red.
“If you don’t like me worrying about you, I won’t do it. I mean… it’s not like there’s anything between us anyway.”
I shrugged lightly, assuming his reddened face meant he didn’t like it.
I’d known Ventus for a long time, and I knew he liked pretty older women and shiny things. Dragons naturally loved beautiful things, after all.
Because of that, I’d long been convinced that there was no way he liked me—certainly not romantically. So I could only assume the reason his face was red was either because he was sick or angry.
“…What is there between us, then?”
His face looked as if he were barely holding back a grimace. I found it strange that he seemed to be grinding his teeth, but I thought carefully about his question.
Companions. Friends. Contractor and contracted. Family. Someone precious. A relationship built on trust.
“…A family-like relationship where we trust each other and can entrust our backs to one another?”
He turned his head away. The brief glimpse I caught before he did showed a distorted expression. Without another word, he started walking away.
“Hey! Where are you going?”
“…I’m going for a walk.”
Leaving only that behind, he used teleportation. The space where he’d been instantly felt empty, leaving me with a strange feeling. But when the Holy Sword urged me to go inside, I ignored the discomfort and moved forward.
Black magic…
So many things had happened that even though I was home for the first time in a while, my mind felt complicated.
Even after five years, the scenery was familiar. As I stepped into the mansion, everyone stared at me as if they’d seen a ghost.
This feels like something I’ve seen before…
“Gasp!”
Thud!
I turned toward the sound and saw a maid who had dropped her laundry basket, standing there with her mouth hanging open.
Startled, I stiffly raised my hand and stammered out a greeting.
“H-Hello?”
“Kyaaaah!”
“Ah!”
Her sudden scream made me yelp in shock too.
Why—why are you screaming?!
“A-Are you the young lady? The one who defeated the knight commander…! C-Could I get your autograph?”
“…What?”
What? An autograph? Why here? And what would you even do with it?!
“Um… why do you need my autograph?”
“Well, I—I’m your fan…! I happened to pass by the training grounds on an errand back then, and I saw you using your sword, and you were so amazing! You were really incredible!”
Her cheeks flushed as she passionately praised me, then she suddenly remembered I was standing right in front of her. Embarrassed, she fled.
S-So fast…
“My goodness! Young lady!”
I turned toward the voice and saw Heather. I ran over and hugged her, and she hugged me back tightly.
“Where have you been all this time without even contacting us?! The Count and Madam were so worried! And when you arrived, you should’ve informed the Count first! At the very least, you should’ve told me or the butler!”
If only that had been the end of it.
I ended up stuck in the garden for nearly an hour, listening to Heather scold me nonstop—repeating the same points over and over with different wording.
I really missed her voice… but…
I think I’ve heard enough now.
It feels like I’ve listened to five years’ worth of nagging all at once.
“Heather, shouldn’t we go inside now? I should greet my parents.”
When I grabbed her and asked with my eyes opened as wide and sparkling as possible, she let out a groan.
“Young lady! Don’t look at me like that! You weren’t listening at all, were you?”
Honestly, I felt called out. After another thirty minutes of talking, Heather finally let me go inside. As we walked, she told me my parents were out and would return around dinner time.
“Young lady! Please take me as your disciple—ack!”
“Young lady! I baked a dessert just for you—urk!”
“Young lady, how about sparring with me?”
The moment I stepped into the mansion, people popped out one after another like links of sausage, bumping into each other just to say their piece. I honestly felt like fainting.
Dear God, why are you giving me such a trial?
I want to go back…!
After finally escaping that chaos, I went to find the butler, Hedison. I wanted to give him a heads-up about Ventus going out for a walk.
“Hi, Hedison!”
“I wondered why the corridor was so noisy. So it was because you returned, young lady.”
For a moment, his gentle smile made me think he was scolding me. To be fair, I was the cause.
“I’m not reproaching you. It’s just that for the first time in a long while, the mansion feels lively again. For the past five years, we lived in constant worry after you disappeared…”
…This feels like reproach, though.
This was entirely my fault, so I had no excuse. I felt bad for causing them so much stress.
Next time—even if I disappear—I’ll at least say something first!
As I made that vow internally, it felt like I heard a voice somewhere saying That’s not the point, but I ignored it and picked at my ear.
“Mom and Dad will be back late, so I’ll be in my room. Let me know when they arrive! Oh, and if the boy I mentioned before comes, guide him to the guest room. He’ll be staying with us.”
…But does he even know the layout here? He stayed here for quite a while back when I was Alena, but whenever we went anywhere or wandered around, I was always the one guiding him.
As I was thinking that and about to leave, I realized he hadn’t answered. I looked back at Hedison.
A subtle unfamiliarity—and faint displeasure.
It was obvious he was uneasy because Ventus’s identity wasn’t clear. We’d disappeared together for five years, so it made sense he’d want to look into it. I’d exchanged letters with my parents, but I’d barely mentioned Ventus…
“Hedison. I guarantee his identity, so relax your expression. Do you really think I’d bring someone strange and suspicious back with me? I’ve known him for a long time.”
“Aren’t the only friends you have the young lord and young lady of the Richard Ducal House?”
Oof. Was that really necessary…?
Hit right in the weak spot, I felt gloomy—then decided to push through shamelessly.
“The Richard siblings know him too. Anyway, I guarantee him. No objections, Hedison.”
I crossed my index fingers into an X, making it clear I wouldn’t accept further questions.
Hedison sighed, then nodded. Since nothing had happened during the five years Ventus spent with me, he seemed willing to trust him—for now.
Once that was settled, I quickly left the butler’s office and headed straight to my room. If I ran into anyone else in the hallway, the same thing as before would definitely happen.
Why is everyone like this toward me? Let’s live peacefully, please…
After entering my room without incident, I recalled the black magic and, grasping at straws, decided to look for books on magic. Even if I found something, I knew the information would probably be minimal.
While rummaging through the shelves, the Holy Sword’s voice echoed in my head.
—Shuri! Hey, couldn’t we use the seal stamped on the contract as evidence?
“Ah… that. I checked—it won’t work.”
—Eeh?! Why not?!
It annoyed me every time I thought about it. I’d really thought we could use the contract as proof! I replied while checking each book.
“It’s a fake. You saw Alena’s seal plenty of times, right? If you look closely, the direction of the lines is different.”
If I tried to use it as evidence, I’d probably be arrested for forgery instead. And if the seal was fake, the handwriting would obviously be fake too.
—Wow. The Emperor actually used his brain? I thought he was completely stupid!
“Right? I think there’s someone pulling the strings behind him.”
I shook my head. After finishing my brief exchange with Rel, I stopped searching for magic books and burned the contract with magic. It was better to get rid of something irritating quickly.
Even after that, I searched for a while longer, just in case—but found nothing.
Ah…! Right, that!
For the record, this was surprisingly the room I’d used back when I was Alena. Since I lived here before my title was officially recognized, I never changed bedrooms afterward.
By “that,” I meant a small secret space I’d made myself.
Inside, after piecing together hazy memories, I found things filled with nostalgia: a diary I only used occasionally, horribly drawn pictures we’d made by drawing each other’s faces (they looked like they were drawn with toes), photos with my companions, and letters from my parents.
My eyes burned. I felt like I might cry—but instead, I pulled out one book.
Magic is generally known to be used through four types of mana.
Black, white, blue, and red. Blue and red are common mana types, while black and white are innate mana. Each person is born with a different amount of mana.
⁝
Black magic is opposed to white magic, and very few records of it remain. In the Perolos Empire, using black magic is punishable by death.
⁝
White magic, opposed to black magic, is also called divine power.
Unlike other forms of magic, it is referred to as “mana bestowed by the god” or “magic bestowed by the god.” Those who can use white magic are few, and the public calls them “priests.” They can be met at temples that serve the god. White mana excels in healing.
⁝
Mana can be used to create mana stones, and their colors differ depending on the type of mana.
⁝
Self-cast magic consumes one’s mana directly and therefore requires no set duration. However, when casting long-term magic on another person, a magic circle must be used along with a medium such as jewelry or something the person carries regularly.
The medium serves as a conduit connecting the magician’s mana to the recipient. Without it, the magic placed on the target cannot last long. Living beings cannot serve as mediums.
⁝
If a magic circle is used within a certain distance, its effect persists. The maximum range is estimated to be 8–10 meters.
⁝
As expected, there was almost nothing about black magic. This was the most detailed book on magic at the time, so I’d hoped—but no luck.
“Seriously, that Emperor tells others not to use black magic, then goes and uses it himself? Thinking about it just makes me mad.”
Black magic wasn’t even something originally known in this world.
There were superstitions that even speaking of black magic would bring misfortune. Everyone who knew or used black magic was executed in the ‘Black Magician Execution Ceremony’ of Imperial Year 315, so no records could have survived.
And as the book said, black magic itself was completely banned in the Perolos Empire.
—Black magic?
“Oh, yeah.”
—Alena, you’re not under black magic.
“What?”
I asked back in shock, but there was no response. I couldn’t understand it at all.
It felt like Rel knew something.
“How do you know that? You… tell me everything you know about black magic.”
—Zzz…
In response to my forceful attitude, the Holy Sword pretended to sleep.
Hey! You brat! Don’t drop something like that and then pretend to sleep!
I struggled with the Holy Sword for nine minutes, but Rel kept pretending to sleep and refused to answer.
Suddenly, I found myself respecting Heather, who had nagged me for an hour and a half.
“Fine… do whatever you want.”
Realizing it had no intention of talking, I gave up and opened the door.
I was planning to get something to eat, since I was getting a bit hungry—but what do you know? Standing in front of my room was my father, who wasn’t supposed to be back yet.
“My daaauuughter!”
When did you even get back?!
My eyes widened in shock as my father pulled me into a tight hug, pressing his face into my shoulder as tears streamed down.
Apparently, my being away for five years—only occasionally sending letters—had worried him terribly. He muttered on and on while soaking my shoulder with tears.
Seeing that, my panic disappeared. Instead, my nose stung, and guilt made tears well up in my eyes. We held each other until the crying finally stopped.
Ah.
I’ve become a fish cake.
